Similarly, the contrast in black-and-white photography can make salient details stand out more sharply. Look at this image and the next one to see how quickly you spot the prices.

(Image: Mildew Design/Rex)

Even when the price signs are fairly small and grainy, they can be found quickly. High contrast is a fundamental principle of attention-grabbing graphic design.

(Image: Buffalo Courier Express/E. H. Butler Library)

Did you spot the gorilla in the X-ray? How about the woman falling to her death? If not, take heart: you are not alone. Only a small percentage of people can outwit their own perceptual flaws. To understand why your brain would keep this information from you, see "Invisible: What your brain refuses to see".